Steam-boiler



(No Model.) I

A. L. WHEELER. STEAM BOILER. No. 359,699. Patented Mar. 22, 1887.

Whpassnm ELZLZLZW a ormi/LeL r lUNiTsn STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

ANDBEXV L. VHEELER, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

STEAM-BOELER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,699, dated March 22, 1837.

I Application filcdSeptcmber-Ql, 1886. Serial No. 214,170. (No model.)

To aZZ wit-0771 2 may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW L. WHEELER, a citizen of the United States, residingin the city of Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented anew and useful Improvement i n Steam-Boilers,ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steam-boilers, but more especially to boiler ends, and when employed in locomotive-boilers will constitute the forward end of the boiler. lts objectis to produce a boiler end with removable center, having a self-locking construction, a hingeconnection with main portion of the end, and a nut-lock to prevent accidental displacement. To this end 1 have designed and constructed the boiler end represented in the accompany ing drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an outer face isometrical representation of a boiler end embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an inner isometrical face view of the boiler end; and Fig. 3 is a central section on dotted line a, Fig. 2.

The main or outer portion of the boiler end is of the usual construction, consisting of the outer disk-ring portion, 1, and the i nner raisedring portion,- 2, in this instance of ogec or cynia-rccta form in section, forming the surrounding wall of its center openin Theinner edge of the wall forming the center opening is formed in equal divisions, with like inclined portions, 3, and between these like inclined portions like openings, 4, are formed, about equal in depth to the depth of the in clines in the plane of the central openin A cap, 5, preferablyof coucavo-convex form and of sufficient dimensions, is employed to cover the central opening. The outer or annular edge of the cap e is rabbeted to enter within the inward-projecting inclines 3. Clasp-arms 6 rise at proper intervals from the inner face of the cap, and their outer ends project outward over the rabbeted portion of the cap, and are fitted to overlap the like inclined portions 3 on the inner edge of the center openings. The position of the clasp-arms on the cap are such as to coincide with the like openings at between the like inclined portions projecting from the inner edge of the center opening,and

their dimensions are such as to enter the open ings freely.

The construction and arrangement of these parts are such that in putting the capin place the clasp-arms will freely enter the openings between the inclined portions, and a partial turn of the cap in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 1 will cause the clasparms to engage the like inclined portions and rise on their inclined surfaces, and cause the cap to engage the annular outersurface of the opening firmly and hold the parts securely in place, and capable of being readily removed by rotating the cap in the direction opposite that indicated by the arrow thereon. A prominence, 7, rises from the outer surface of the cap, and is provided with a radial hole, 8, to receive a bar or lever, to serve as a wrench to turn the cap to fix it in place on the boiler end or dis engage it therefrom. A forked hinge-bar, 9, is hinge-jointed to the end proper by means of cars 10, rising therefrom, and a joiut-rod, l1, connecting the forked ends of the bar with the ears. An axle-joint bolt, 12, either fixed in the axial center of the cap or passed outward through its axial center, projects from the cap and receives the end portion of the forked hinge-bar 9, and forms a pivoted connection of the cap with the hinge-bar,to permit itto turn on its pivotal connection therewith. Ascrewnut, 13, on the projecting end of the pivot-bolt serves'as a lock-nnt to fix the parts, when in place,to prevent accidental displacement, and a slacking oi" the screw-nut 13 will permit the removal of the cap and still hold it in its hinged connection with the boiler end. A numberplate, 14, to contain the numerals indicating the number of the boiler or the machine of which it is a part, is fixed in place on bracketarms 15,1'isiug from the axial end of theforked hinge-bar.

I claim as my invcntion- 1. The combination, with the main portion of the boiler end, and with the removable cap having a self-locking connection, of a hinged bar having a hinged connection with the main portion of the end, and connected to the cap by a bolt upon which the cap is adapted to rotate, and means for locking the nut-connection to prevent the aforesaid rotation of the cap, substantially as set forth.

,2. The combination, with the main portion of the boiler end having inclined portions projecting from the inner edge of its center opening, of a cap forsaid opening, and provided with projecting clasp-arms to engage the inclined abolt upon which the cap is adapted to rotate, projections, a hinged bar having a hinged conof means for locking the nut-connection to pre-, nection with the main portion of the end and vent the aforesaid rotation,and :a number- 1 connected to the cap by a bolt upon which the plate supported upon the inner end portion of capis adapted to rotate, and means for lockthe hinged bar, so as to cover the bolt-connecingthenut-connection to prevent the aforesaid tion and locking means, substantially as set rotation, substantially as set forth. v forth.-

3. The combination, with the main portion of the boiler end, and with the removable cap ANDREW WHEELER" having a self-locking connection and a hinged WVitnesses: bar having a hinged connection with the main J AOOB BEHEL, portion of the end, and connected to the cap by l A. O. B HEL. 

